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Role: Volunteers work on achieving the goals set out in the Care Management Plan, including running educational games and group activities, providing emotional support and helping improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities

Accommodation: Host Families

Price: From

What’s included? Food, accommodation, transfers to and from our specified airport,transport to and from work where required, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support

What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money

Length of placement: From two weeks

Start dates: Flexible

The Fijian islands in the South Pacific are home to a courteous, sincere people with ancient traditions, however Fiji is becoming increasingly urbanised and as more people move from the villages to the urban centres levels of deprivation have increased.

Volunteering on a Care project in Fiji is an ideal way to get involved with the local community of this fascinating island nation. Whether you are on a gap year, summer placement or career break, we will arrange a suitable project for you.

Volunteers with specific qualifications and experience are welcome but you do not need to have either to join us as a Care volunteer. All we ask is that you bring with you energy, passion and commitment.

Voluntary Work with Kindergartens and Special Needs Children

Our Care placements in Fiji are based in and around Nadi and Lautoka, on the west coast of Viti Levu. Most volunteers work at kindergartens and centres for children with special needs.

At the kindergartens, the class sizes are large, so it’s extremely difficult for the local staff to give each child as much attention as they need. Volunteers working here will be able to provide a helping hand, looking after and caring for the children. It is also the perfect opportunity to put any skills and interests you have to use, whether it is arts and crafts, or teaching games and songs to the children - your suggestions will always be well received. By showing initiative and enthusiasm the options available are endless.

Projects Abroad also works with centres for children with special needs. Here volunteers can provide the children with the extra care and attention they need. These projects are challenging yet extremely rewarding. There is a great need for people who have experience or qualifications in this field, in particular speech therapy or special needs education. Most importantly they welcome any volunteers who have patience and a strong desire to help wherever necessary.

We also offer care placements in more traditional Fijian villages. Please see the Community Village Project page for more information on village care options.

Volunteers normally live with a host family within walking distance or a short bus ride from their project.

Volunteering abroad on a Care Project in Fiji

In order to offer extra support to care volunteers, the Projects Abroad team in Fiji organise weekly workshops. The workshops will provide you with a valuable insight into the care system in Fiji and the background of the placement where you’re working. You will also receive suggestions regarding activities to carry out at your care placement and useful cultural information, from local ideas about discipline to sessions about language and Fijian traditions.

Whether you are helping older children with school homework or playing a game or reading a story to the younger ones, you will be an essential part of their development. Please let our local staff know about any particular interests and skills you may have when you apply. We have a number of partners who also welcome help with more administrative tasks, such as website design, marketing, research and grant writing, so whatever your skills are, they are sure to be put to good use.

The majority of care centres and kindergartens in Fiji have a holiday from the beginning of December to the end of January. Volunteers working during this period will continue working at the Projects Abroad holiday schools which are run in or around Nadi. Projects Abroad volunteers are solely responsible for planning and running all the lessons and it’s a great opportunity to use your imagination and come up with educational lessons, games and arts and crafts.

You can join a Care project in Fiji for two or three weeks if you don't have time to join us for four weeks or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.

Some of the media Projects Abroad has featured in: The Times, The Guardian, EL DIARIO, San Francisco Chronicle, Newsweek, Ok! Magazine, The New York Times, The Vancouver Sun, ELLE, BBC, CNBC, Travel and Leisure, BusinessWeek, The Irish Times